Friday, May 29, 2015

Book Tour and Excerpt: Ara by B.R. Eddy

in Jimalia, a thriving island nation in the middle of a vast
ocean. Her macaws

are trained to fly home to the palace to repeat confidential
information. When

their messages become more and more troubling, she finds
herself in the middle

of a crisis she never expected. Ara's story is full of
adventure, friendship,

mystery, love and loss. Join Ara and her companions as they
fight pirates,

uncover deception, find love and fight for
Jimalia.

Excerpt

She escaped to a high balcony to get some fresh air.
She may have accepted one too many drinks. There were a few people out on the
wide balcony, one couple was dancing slowly to the small orchestra there, and
another was sharing something quiet and intimate as they leaned against the
rail together. Ara took a deep breath. The air was still chilly, spring was
still so young.

“My lady,”

Ara opened her eyes and spun around to find Archer
there. She felt immediately on the defense. “Your highness,” She curtsied to
him deeply, squashing the defensiveness. The King had spoken to him, surely he
was over his silly courting fantasies. He deserved a chance from her.

“Lady Ara, I wanted to apologize, this is the first
chance I’ve had to speak to you alone. I never intended for my gifts to distress
you. I know you spoke to my father and I just wanted you to know that I
sincerely never intended to cause you any aggravation by it.” He bowed to her
deeply, “Will you accept my apology?”

Ara’s heart softened, “Of course, your highness.”
She said it quietly, so that no one around them would overhear.

He held out his hand to her, and she took it.

*

Archer took her waist. The orchestra played a gentle
tune that was easy enough to follow. Ara was light on her feet, her dress
wrapped and spun around her quietly as she followed his lead. Beautiful. He’d
imagined this before, the starry night sky with her in his arms. When he
imagined it, he was a daring and charming dancer, but now it didn’t matter so
much what he was doing. Her eyes were downcast, her eyelashes were long against
her cheeks. Did she even want what he had to offer her?

He’d convinced himself that deep down, she did, but
did she?

“Lady Ara?” He nearly whispered.

“Aye, my Prince?” She whispered just as softly.

He frowned. Perhaps she didn’t even care for his
company and she was only following her duty to him as a prince. Perhaps that
was all anyone ever did.

“Archer?” Ara looked up into his eyes.

His heart stung, she pushed past formality as if she
knew exactly what he was thinking.

*

Ara was surprised by Archer’s behavior. He was so
calm, almost downcast. She could feel a pulse in his hand, what was he
thinking? He seemed so troubled and sad. Perhaps he wasn’t conceding to his
betrothal as willingly as she thought he was. This close to him, she realized
how much taller he was than herself. He was almost like a different person. His
eyes pierced hers. “It’s nothing.” He said, “I just… everything has been
changing so much, these last seasons have made me feel quite inadequate.”

Ara’s heart went out to him, “Oh Archer, you
shouldn’t feel that way. You never expected any of this and no one expects you
to be prepared for it.” She wasn’t sure what else to say, she didn’t want to
insult him by saying it wasn’t his fault that he had led a carefree life up
till this point, or discourage him by saying that she was sympathetic that he
was being plunged into a life of sacrifice. It was a rough way for him to
realize how callow he had been.

“Ara, my father has trusted you to advise him and
you have shown him incredible loyalty, I… I have always admired you for this
and never realized how important you and your counsel could become to me. I
hope I can earn your trust and loyalty someday as well.” He held her hand
firmly.

Ara smiled, “You have my loyalty, Prince Archer
Cannon, and it will forever be my pleasure to advise you when you find the need
for it.”

*

Rivan had seen them up on the high balcony from the
estate gardens. He stopped in the shadow of a tree to watch. Fellow and Orren
followed him there, grazing idly. They danced so elegantly, they had probably
been coached in dance since they were young. They whispered quietly to each
other. It was a different world they lived in, full of politics and culture.

The Prince spun her around, her skirt wrapped and unfurled
with her motion. A prince… not just any prince but the Crown Prince of Jimalia.
His attention probably had her over the moon.

He wondered what things would have been like had he
been born into that world. Would he be able to dance with a lady like Ara? Her
kind familiarity and gracious visits into his life were almost painful. It only
made him pine after what he could never have.

He imagined approaching her at a gala, bringing her
drinks, taking her arm and dancing. The thought was intoxicating, but then he
remembered her atop Fellow, smiling wide and laughing and that brought thunder
to his chest. She wasn’t just an ostentatious noble with her nose in the air
like the rest of them. She lived and thrived in that world, but she was so much
more than they were. She was real. It was no wonder she turned the eyes of the
Prince.

He imagined her instead as a servant like him and
the fantasy was much more tantalizing. She would have saddle polish smudged on
her sun kissed cheek, her hair would be free from all the structured curls and
braids and bonnets to roll down her shoulders and blow in the wind. Her nose
wrinkling as she giggled about something daft. Maybe he would tuck her bangs
behind her ear for her before lifting her chin to steal a kiss…

He shook his head. He was being cruel to himself. It
was all silly nonsense that would never be. His heart beat painfully, he was
not a noble and she was not a servant. She was entirely unavailable to him and
he had to accept it.

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